Michigan voters apparently reject changes to state constitution

Michigan voters apparently rejected five proposals aimed at altering Michigan’s Constitution on matters from collective bargaining to taxes to renewable energy to international bridges.

But partial terms on the state’s controversial emergency manager law remained too close to call late in the evening.

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Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder spent much of the week leading up to the election urging people to vote “Yes on 1, no on the rest.”

Here’s what voters decided they wanted to do:

Proposal 1 asked people to affirm Public Act 4, the state’s emergency manager law. The law allows broader control for state-appointed emergency managers in financially troubled cities such as Pontiac, which has had a manager since 2009. The outcome remained too close to call with partial returns reported.

However, voters appeared to easily reject the other five aimed at changing the state constitution:

Proposal 2 asked that collective bargaining be made a constitutional right for public and private workers.

Proposal 3 asked for a constitutional amendment requiring 25 percent of the state’s electricity come from renewable sources by the year 2025.

Proposal 5 asked that an increase in the state tax rate or tax base to be approved by two-thirds of the state legislature or a vote of the people.

Proposal 6 sought a constitutional amendment to require voter approval for any new bridge or tunnel from the state to Canada. The proposal is an ongoing feud between the governor and the owners of the Ambassador Bridge, who oppose a government-sponsored second span over the Detroit River.

“For the sake of Michigan’s families and economic recovery we can only hope the union bosses finally got voters’ message— ‘Hands Off Our Constitution!” said a statement for Citizens for Protecting Michigan’s Constitution, an opponent of Proposal 2.

In Pontiac, state-appointed emergency manager Lou Schimmel said it would be business as usual, at least for now, regardless of the outcome on Proposal 1.

“We simply have been informed that if Public Act 4 is not in place, then really nothing happens, we just carry on in the position we’re in now,” he said.